Club Focus: Whaley Bridge AFC Reserves

Whaley Bridge FC reserves are without defeat in the league since April 2013.

Published:17:07Thursday 20 February 2014

Whaley Bridge Reserves are not only fighting on two fronts heading into the latter part of the season, but are also trying to extend a momentous run.

The side, led by player-manager Dan Turner, are in contention for both league and cup silverware come the end of the campaign.

However, they are also defending a proud unbeaten run that is coming up to its first anniversary.

Turner’s men are unbeaten in a remarkable 23 league games - a run which stretches back to April 2013.

“It’s become a bit of a stone around our neck, people turn up and want to beat us.

“They want that scalp.

“Every game for us now is like a cup final,” explains Turner, who took over as manager three years ago.

Whaley were denied the chance to close the gap at the top of the Cheshire League Reserve Division last Saturday when their game against leaders Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds fell victim to the weather.

Despite this disappointment Whaley currently find themselves in an enviable position, sitting six points behind the leader but crucially with four games in hand.

Having struggled to find the net consistently last year, Whaley’s potency in front of goal has been boosted by the attacking partnership of Tom Wildgoose and Tom Scorer, who between them have amassed 45 of Whaley’s 63 goals this term.

Turner added: “Tom Wildgoose was a massive influence towards the back end of last season.

“He and Scorer have really hit it off. I wouldn’t like to play against them.

The manager also had words of praise for his defence who, having conceded just 22 goals in their 18 league games, boast the most miserly defence in the division.

“The morale at the back is brilliant.

“It’s nice to have the stability of having the same back five every week.”

On top of their superb league form, Whaley also have a cup semi-final to look forward to next month but their run of impressive results comes as no surprise to the manager, who admits that he had high hopes for his side at the beginning of the campaign.

He added: “I said at the start of the season that our aim was top-three and now in the position we’re in, six points off with four games in hand, I’ll be disappointed if we don’t win something.”